The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-07-28

sky. All, yes, Mr.. Vellum If ever in all
the dusty years Of dusty commerce you
or any other man would choose to be
measured by the impartial Cupid Of exact
science, it would be upoa . night and in
an hour such a. this, with the pure and
warm and precious thing in cause upon
your arm.
The old man was in a state of furious
impatience. Three times had he sat him
self down in his library chair before the in
instrument, and three times had the needle
stood motionless, only sending him back TO
the door to discover that they had not
taken the chairs, but were stopping over
flower, or bending over the crystal rim Of
the little lake, or standing still to breathe
in the magical radiance Of the wosderful
silent moon. But at last they approached
the seats. They sat down as intended.
He rushed back to the library and--
How the old mans eyes lightened! The
needle had gone from o to 9 the minute
Vellum touched the chair Then the old
man pumped himself down in his seat,
and with the shaded lamp light shining
brightly on the face of the instrument
and bringing the watchers nose and
mouth in full relief he watched with all
his eyes.
"Sy Symmetry," said Vellum slowly and
earnestly-alone with her in the shade of
the elm-"it seems to me this is the
happiest night of my life ~
The needle rose slowly as he spoke
from 9 to l flush.
"Te-hee," chuckled the old man in the
library.
"But do you know, dear FRIEND" Mr..
Vellum continued, "that it will be the
unhappiest Of them all If you choose to
make it so p
The depression OF the arterial circu-
lation in Vellum, through his fear. sent
the needle back to 10.
Symmetry said nothing.
The needle went to 8.
"What in thunder has happened ?"
calculated the old man uneasily.
She could not speak, she was so beauti-
fully, hopelessly in love that she dared
not trust herself to say one word. She
could only turn herself mutely to the
man beside her and let the soft luminance
of the moonlight sift down to show the
ghost of the happy tears that lay in those
eyes, that were so earnest and alight with
love.
Vellum felt great throb of joy as he
saw her meaning. The needle jumped like
a flash to %.
"Ah p said the old gentleman cheerily.
" All -h-h-h !" he continued patronizingly,
as it crept steadily up to 25.
81 have never loved any woman" said
Vellum with slightly husky intenseness.
81 have thought Al times that they would
be in all my life as things apart But
from the moment met you, Symmetry"
He drew long, silent breath!
The needle was 40 and fraction.
"High tension" said the old man,
shaking his head. "Suthin' III have to
give way pooty soon." And with his right
thumb and foreinger he twisted COM
press clamp just the faintest part of an
inch, watching intently the while.
" / am afraid to say the words l came
to say "-Vellum was greatly agitated-
the needle went back little "It seems
to me as if my whole life was hanging in
the balance "-the needle was "a" but
could you-would you, darling, would
you-be by wife p
His arm went forth in unconscious ap-
pealing to her shoulder, it passed about
her neck of its own accord, the loving girl
sank toward him like beautiful bending
lily, her head was upon his shoulder, and
in that kiss of perfect, of intense and
transcendent worship her lovers lips were
pressed to hers.
Two hundred and the maximum. 1t
had jumped there in flash. The old
mans hair was on end and his eyes were
bulging. The needle clung to the limit
like mussle to a rock. It would pass
over on the negative side, fly back, try to
get higher, and -
"Snap !" there was a faint sound. The
delicate balance had broken. The galvan-
ometer was ruined.
The old man was wild He was as mad
as whole convention of hatters. His pet
instrument! He almost frothed at the
mouth. He rushed through the hall, out
of the door, down the walk, and few at
Vellum.
"You scoundrel! You've smashed my
galvanometer,' he roared.
"Pve kissed your daughter. you old
fool" roared Vellum back at him.
"Oh," said Symmetry, in anguish. She
shivered in loves fear.
The old mans face was q study. There
was not sign of anger in it. At Vel
lum's words, as if by magic, his look had
changed instantly to one of deep interest
and some hesitation. .f
You-a-you kissed her, you say ?"
az did," said Vellum, without the least
apparent shame.
"Could you-a-ahem." The old man
was really confused. "Could you-a-
I've got another galvanometer-could
you, could you kiss her again p''
"Well, rather" Vellum did not lose
a moment. He kissed her soundly, and
she did not dare to disobey.
"Oh, no-stopl didn't mean"--
The old gentleman was thrown off his
balance. But he was helpiessly in D di-
lemma. He stood silent, entirely per-
picked.
"Will you take me for .son-in-law ?''
asked Vellum squarely.
"Oh, yes; of course" returned the old
man, q little abstracted. When-a-
whenll you be up again ~
1t was some time before Mr.. Vellnm
became aware ofthe mysterious coneom-
itants of bis courtship. When be knew
he laughed long and loud. They are
married now, and Symmetry seems to
share her fathers interest in the exact
sciences. At least she thinks that gal
vanometer the most perfect mechanical
contriyance in the wide, wide world